»By night boat to Sardinia

Travelling to Sardinia by ferry is not simply a means of getting there. For many visitors, the crossing itself sets the tone for the holiday: a slow departure from the mainland, a night at sea, and landfall the following morning on an island whose coastline is visible long before the ship docks.

Departures from the Italian mainland

Several Italian ports serve Sardinia, with the main routes running from Genoa, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Piombino on the Tyrrhenian coast. Crossings vary considerably in length. The shortest routes, from Piombino to Olbia, take around five to six hours, while the longer crossings from Genoa can take upwards of ten hours. Night sailings are the practical choice for anyone travelling from further north, allowing the journey to double as a night’s accommodation.

Arriving in the north

Olbia is the principal gateway for the north-east of the island and the most convenient port for the Costa Smeralda, San Teodoro and the Gallura interior. Ferries also dock at Golfo Aranci, a smaller port a short drive north of Olbia, and at Porto Torres in the north-west, which suits travellers heading for Alghero, Stintino and the Nurra region.

Arriving in the south

Cagliari, the island’s capital, is served by ferries from Civitavecchia and Naples, with the crossing from the mainland taking roughly twelve to thirteen hours. The port sits directly beneath the city’s historic centre, so passengers can walk or take a short taxi ride into the Castello district within minutes of disembarking. Arbatax, on the east coast, offers a further option for those bound for the Ogliastra region.

What to expect on board

Modern ferries on these routes carry cabins, reclining seats, restaurants, bars and, on the larger ships, shops and children’s play areas. Cabins range from basic internal berths to larger outside cabins with sea views, and booking early is advisable in July and August, when sailings to the island are at their busiest. Vehicles are carried on all major routes, and boarding with a car is generally straightforward, though arriving at the port well before departure is recommended.

A practical note

Foot passengers should check whether their chosen port offers a shuttle service between the terminal and the ship, as some terminals are large and the walk to the berth can be long. Sailing times and frequencies change with the season, so it is worth confirming schedules directly with the ferry operator before booking connecting travel on the island.